Fremantle coach Mark Harvey has put his players on notice, warning his team that any time off during the split round could be cancelled if he's not happy with their preparation and performance against the Bombers.
Harvey has seen more than his fair share of mental lapses from his side this season, especially as it blew three-quarter time leads on the way to losing five matches in a row, but Harvey said this time around, any sign the players were switching off going into the week's break would result in them training as normal.
"If players are thinking that way, then that will cost you the game," said Harvey.
"Perhaps, if they don't perform on the weekend there will be no holiday."
"If I get any hint or any mindset of that this week leading into the lead-up to the game and then the outcome of the game, then I would consider that."
Two players who are unlikely to switch off for the encounter are former Essendon pair Dean Solomon and Mark Johnson, with Harvey hinting strongly that Johnson would play his 200th game against his old club, despite saying there were no guarantees after last Friday's loss to St Kilda.
Johnson, in particular, spoke earlier in the week that playing against the Bombers would give him a sense of closure after being surprisingly cut from Essendon's list by new coach Matthew Knights at the end of last year.
But Harvey didn't seem overly concerned that emotion would get the better of Johnson.
"I would hope not," said Harvey. "I hope after the experience of the 200 games that Mark wouldn't go over the top. I think he'll be fairly orchestrated in what he does."
Harvey also said Johnson's competitive spirit and experience had helped the Dockers' younger players, despite the 30-year-old having an interrupted season through injury and suspension.
"He's (Johnson) very dedicated to his football, but he's just played with that, I talk about tenacity and the will to win and he's always had that and that's what's carried him through a lot of his career," said Harvey.
"The way he goes about his football, his personality and I think that's rubbed off on a lot of the younger guys."
"But, knowing the fact that we've got a couple of guys here from Essendon it will be an interesting game," he said.
Given a nine-day break after last weekend's loss to St Kilda, Harvey believes key defender Luke McPharlin will be fit after injuring his ribs against the Saints, although Michael Johnson (ankle) looks more doubtful.
The coach said there were several names in contention to fill Johnson's spot with Steven Dodd and Marcus Drum the main contenders.
Heath Black, however, will not be named in the side despite finishing a two-match suspension for rough conduct against the Lions. At the time, Harvey said Black's poor discipline would not be tolerated at the selection table and, true to his word, the former-Saint will play in the WAFL this weekend.